“Almost every financial blow-up is because of leverage.” ~ Seth Klarman Nobody wants a margin call! Though investors invariably increase margin debt during times of expansion, they also inevitably encounter liquidation events. This chart shows the amplification of leverage on stock markets:   Those gray shaded areas above indicate years of recessions, during which investors...Read More

“Everybody has a plan until they get hit.” ~ Mike Tyson In the face of potential market volatility, we need confidence. Successful investors compound their financial assets by following a professional process over the long run.   To stay the course, you will need:  Clarity on your risk tolerance Clarity on potential market volatility -see below...Read More

Do you know how much Canadians pay in taxes? All told, we pay 41.9% percent of our income in taxes. The average family’s tax bill is even greater than what we spend on our basic necessities such as food, shelter, and clothing.  The average Canadian family’s expenditures as percentage of cash income, 2025 Source: Fraser...Read More

“Bad news sells because the amygdala is always looking for something to fear.” ~ Peter H. Diamandis A little context can provide some good perspective. While headlines are designed to trigger an emotional response in us, creating questions, shocking with language, and featuring unsettling stories, the full picture is often considerably different.  You may even...Read More

“In investing, success teaches people that making money is easy, and that they don’t have to worry about risk — two particularly dangerous lessons.” ~ Howard Marks What can we learn from market cycles? This article, How Will This Cycle End? by Ben Carlson, highlights some of the dangers that can develop in stock markets. It...Read More

It is just appalling the nerve strain people put themselves under trying to buy something today and sell it tomorrow. ~Philip Fisher What are the dangers of market timing? The first is not being invested for the long-term in markets which historically have risen most of the time. The second is that those who attempt...Read More

“An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.” ~Benjamin Franklin How can you improve your investing experience? By avoiding typical investment mistakes. Our professional financial service will help you to avoid the following costly pitfalls, outlined in these excellent articles: Chasing Performance:How Investors Are Costing Themselves Money, Forbes Magazine Focusing Only On Fees:You Don’t...Read More

AI is making human connection MORE important, not less. ~ Ninna Lauridsen This short article, The Human Edge, from Advisor Analyst explores how AI can’t replace personal investment advice because it doesn’t understand you!  Here are some key takeaways from the article: AI amplifies bias rather than correcting it 93% of client communication is nonverbal  Technical expertise alone...Read More

Taxes can significantly lower your net investment returns. Unfortunately, the cumulative costs can be huge.  Fortunately, keeping more of what you earn is possible. This “tax-drag” problem (and potential solutions) becomes clear with three simple illustrations:  How much higher can your investments grow?  Source: Lifecare Insurance and Financial Experts Inc. A “registered” account allows your...Read More

There is an old quip to describe the cost of market timing. Q: Why is your portfolio like a bar of soap?  A: The more you touch it, the smaller it gets! Consider the enormous performance gap between long-term buy and hold vs the average investor’s results from market timing:   Wow! And that doesn’t even...Read More